I managed to get to the range yesterday and did some testing on three brands of 00 Buck that I had on hand. Below are the results. Please pardon my shooting as these were, literally, the first nine rounds I put through this gun. In addition to figuring out the pattern of the rounds I was also figuring out the gun's POA/POI characteristics.
Conditions:
Temperature: 81F
Wind: 10-15 MPH
Humidity: 38%
Gun: Mossberg 500, 18.5" barrel, cylinder bore, bead sight
Brands Tested:
Rio Royal Buck
12 Ga.
2 3/4"
1345 FPS
9 Pellets
Federal Power Shok
12 Ga.
2 3/4"
1290 FPS
12 Pellets
Federal Premium Personal Defense with FliteControl
12 Ga.
2 3/4"
1145 FPS
9 Pellets
7 Yard Results
Federal Premium, FliteControl
Notes: The hole approximately 2" above and 1/2" to the left of the red dot is the pattern created at this range. The second hole, approximately 3" to the right and 3" above the red dot, is a hole created by the Power Shok's wad.
Federal Power Shok
Notes: While the entire pattern is a tad high (me getting used to my 'new' 500) the pattern is reasonable for 7 yards approximately 4" in diameter.
Rio Royal Buck
Notes: For a "cheap" round, the Royal Buck holds together pretty well at 7 yards producing a pattern perhaps even a bit better than the Power Shok about 3" in diameter.
10 Yard Results
Federal Premium, FliteControl
Notes: Again, the FliteControl round produces essentially a single hole.
Federal Power Shok
Notes: While we still have a nice collection of pellets on or near the red dot, other pellets are starting to spread with one off the grid. This gives us a pattern diameter of approximately 5" with a definite tendency of the errant rounds to stray up and left.
Rio Royal Buck
Notes: With its 12 pellet load, the Royal Buck delivers a tight cluster of about six pellets at 10 yards but begins to spread the remainder of the pellets considerably. The spread literally covers the entire target with a definite downward pattern.
Conditions:
Temperature: 81F
Wind: 10-15 MPH
Humidity: 38%
Gun: Mossberg 500, 18.5" barrel, cylinder bore, bead sight
Brands Tested:
Rio Royal Buck
12 Ga.
2 3/4"
1345 FPS
9 Pellets
Federal Power Shok
12 Ga.
2 3/4"
1290 FPS
12 Pellets
Federal Premium Personal Defense with FliteControl
12 Ga.
2 3/4"
1145 FPS
9 Pellets
7 Yard Results
Federal Premium, FliteControl
Notes: The hole approximately 2" above and 1/2" to the left of the red dot is the pattern created at this range. The second hole, approximately 3" to the right and 3" above the red dot, is a hole created by the Power Shok's wad.
Federal Power Shok
Notes: While the entire pattern is a tad high (me getting used to my 'new' 500) the pattern is reasonable for 7 yards approximately 4" in diameter.
Rio Royal Buck
Notes: For a "cheap" round, the Royal Buck holds together pretty well at 7 yards producing a pattern perhaps even a bit better than the Power Shok about 3" in diameter.
10 Yard Results
Federal Premium, FliteControl
Notes: Again, the FliteControl round produces essentially a single hole.
Federal Power Shok
Notes: While we still have a nice collection of pellets on or near the red dot, other pellets are starting to spread with one off the grid. This gives us a pattern diameter of approximately 5" with a definite tendency of the errant rounds to stray up and left.
Rio Royal Buck
Notes: With its 12 pellet load, the Royal Buck delivers a tight cluster of about six pellets at 10 yards but begins to spread the remainder of the pellets considerably. The spread literally covers the entire target with a definite downward pattern.